The US says Chabahar port project won't be impacted by sanctions on Iran. A State Department official said that the Chabahar port project, being developed by India in Iran, will not be impacted by US President Donald Trump's decision not to renew exemptions that let eight countries including India to buy Iranian oil without facing American sanctions. 

The exception for reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan, which includes the development and operation of Chabahar Port, is a separate exception, a State Department Spokesperson said.

The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) have announced that 85% of the Hope Probe project has been completed. Hope Probe is an ambitious dream project of UAE to send a mission to Mars.

In a joint statement, the two organisations confirmed that most of the main parts of the project have been completed and are currently undergoing intensive testing to ensure every aspect of the Probe is ready for activation a few months before the launch date.

Hope Probe is scheduled to be launched in July 2020. With a successful launch, UAE hopes to become the first Arabic and Islamic country to make the Mars Mission dream a reality. A statement released by the Dubai Media Office said that the Probe has already entered an intensive testing phase to ensure its readiness before the launch date, with less than 500 days are remaining for the launch. It is planned to reach Mars by 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the southern Philippines today, just a day after a deadly tremor rocked the country's north. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said, the quake hit near Tutubigan, which is hundreds of kilometres south of the quake that hit near Manila yesterday killing at least 11 people. 

The USGS downgraded the magnitude of the fresh quake after initially recording it at 6.6.

India will stop importing crude oil from Iran following the US move to end sanction waivers, and will use alternate supply sources such as Saudi Arabia to make up for the lost volumes, top officials and industry sources said Tuesday.

The Trump administration Monday decided not to renew waiver that let countries like India buy Iranian oil without facing US sanctions.

"Until the waivers are not restored back, I don't think India can buy oil from Iran. We will stop importing oil from Iran," a top official said.

New Delhi is likely to press with the US government for continuation of beyond its expiry on May 2 in talks scheduled later this month, he said. "But purchases cannot be made in anticipation. We will not be importing any oil from Iran."

India was the second biggest buyer of Iranian crude oil after China. It bought some 24 million tonnes of crude oil from Iran in the fiscal ended March 31 (2018-19). Iran supplied more than a tenth of its oil needs.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects to start converting the company's electric cars into fully self-driving vehicles next year as part of an audacious plan to create a network of robotic taxis to compete against Uber and other ride-hailing services.

The vision sketched out Monday during an event at Tesla's Silicon Valley headquarters requires several leaps of faith — something that the zealous investors and consumers who view Musk as a technological genius often are willing to take.

But self-driving car experts fear Musk is shirking public safety in an effort to boost Tesla's stock and sell more of the company's electric cars.

The Asia Badminton Championships will begin at Wuhan in China today. It will continue till the 28th of this month. India will be represented by Kidambi Srikanth and Sameer Verma in men's singles and P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal in women's singles. 

Meanwhile, two of the country's top shuttlers HS Prannoy and B Sai Praneeth have alleged that the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has denied them a chance to participate in the Championships due to some gaffe on the part of BAI. 

However, BAI issued a statement to the press yesterday evening denying the allegations. The statement said, based on the email received from Badminton Asia, they were asked to send names of two players each for men and women’s singles.

Actors Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and director James Wan have paid their respects to paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren, whose several ghost-hunting cases with her late husband, inspired the trio's The Conjuring film series.

On Friday, Lorraine's son-in-law, Tony Spera, shared the news of her death on the Facebook page for the New England Society for Psychic Research, which Lorraine co-founded with her husband Ed Warren in 1952.

"It is with deep sadness that I must announce that Lorraine Warren has passed away. She died peacefully in her sleep at home last night. The family requests that you respect their privacy at this time," Spera said in a statement.

Farmiga played Lorraine and Wilson essayed the role of Ed in Wan's 2013 horror movie The Conjuring. The film was a smash-hit success at the global box office, raking in over USD 310 million against a budget of USD 20 million. A follow-up, which released in 2016, was an equally big hit.

In a Facebook post, the director said he is "deeply saddened" after hearing about Lorraine's death.

Ukrainian actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy has won the second round of a presidential election against incumbent Petro Poroshenko by a landslide.

According to a national exit poll showed on Sunday, the political newcomer, who dominated the first round of voting three weeks ago, got more than 70% support.

Polls gave Poroshenko, who has been in power since 2014, 25% of the vote. 

If polls are correct, he will be elected for a five-year term. Official results are expected to come later today.

Zelensky challenged incumbent president Petro Poroshenko who has admitted defeat.

Grounded carrier Jet Airways on Monday said its non-executive and non-independent director Nasim Zaidi has quit the board, citing personal reasons and time constraints.

Zaidi, the former Chief Election Commissioner and ex- civil aviation secretary, joined the Jet Airways board in August last year.

"This is to inform you that Nasim Zaidi has submitted his resignation as a non-executive, non-independent director of the company with effect from April 21 due to personal reasons and constraints of time," Jet Airways said in an exchange filing.

The airline, which ceased all its operations temporarily last week, is under the management control of State Bank of India-led consortium of lenders following a debt-recast plan approved by its board last month.

The Indian Navy launched guided missile destroyer Imphal at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai yesterday. 

Imphal is the third ship to be launched under a project in which ships are built to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters.

In a statement, the Navy said, enhanced stealth features have been achieved through the shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fittings which make the ships difficult to detect. 

Speaking on the occasion, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said, he is satisfied with the force's fleet and more aircraft and submarines will be inducted in the days to come. 

He said, over the years, Navy has become a builder from a buyer and was slated to excel in coming years.